The highly-rated Gavin produced another impressive performance in Chicago

Gavin beat Tishchenko 19-10 and now meets Italy's Domenico Valentino aiming to take his country's first world gold.

But team-mates Joe Murray lost 20-11 to Mongolian Enkhbat Badar-Uugan and Bradley Saunders to Russia's Gennady Kovalev to settle for bronze medals.

All three English boxers, however, qualify for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

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There was heartbreak for super-heavyweight David Price, who had to withdraw from facing Italian Roberto Cammarelle with a suspected broken left hand sustained in a previous round.

He could still reach Beijing via the remaining qualifying tournaments in the new year.

Birmingham's Commonwealth gold medallist Gavin fell behind early against Tishchenko but scored repeatedly with his jab over the four rounds on the way to a comprehensive win.

"It's the biggest win of my career," the 23-year-old said.

"He's number one in the world and now I'm one place away from being number one. It's the best feeling I've ever had in boxing.

It's the best feeling I've ever had in boxing Frankie Gavin

"For the final it's back to basics, get my tactics right and who knows, I could end up being England's first world champion."

Sedgefield light-welterweight Saunders found his experienced opponent a little too tough and never recovered from a poor start, falling to a 16-8 defeat.

And Mancunian bantamweight Murray was beaten 20-11, although both fighters have still performed admirably over the championships for their bronze medals.